Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-12-21
GEORGE WILL NOT RUN.

Henry George is the acknowledged
head of the united labor party in the
United States and what he may say now
should be listened To 10y every dissatis-
fled citizen who has an inclination to
stray off after strange gods or who can
not find a satisfactory home in either of
the great political parties. Ia recent
interview with the New York Morning
Journal. Mr.. George talked freely con-
corning the future OF the labor party.
lie said there were two points on which
his people are uncertain: One, rather
insignificant. is the name of the Organi-
zation, many considering the name
united labor. misnOmer. The other
matter is grave one, said Mr.. George,
and upon it depends what we shall do
next year. We have presidential
campaign coming or; if we were to
nominate ticket we should he con-
demned to a hopeless campaign, ending.
of course, IN overwhelming defeat.
Now the point is, is it wise TO go into a
u campaign with "a certainty Of defeat,
or is ii not better to hold off for year
or two, and then concentrate our ener-
gies again upon officers local to this
state?"
My argument against going into the
national canvass Is tins: SUCH "A cam
paign so violently arOuses the sentl
ments of the country. and the people at
arge are SO firmly affiliated with the
two great parties, that our cause and
our issue would be lost sight of in the
great turmoil. We are not yet IN posi-
ton to command enough attention to
make II pay to go into a presidential
canvass. Moreover, the expense of
such a canvass is simply enormous. Ii
has been terrible drain upon us dur
ing this last year To conduct even state
campaign. Now. If we go INTO nation
al campaign, we must have tickets print
ed To be distributed in every voting pre-
cinct in the country: we must have
speeches made: we must have To-
cal headquarters; in fact, all the appli
ances of political machine must be
brought into play. The expense of that
would he something uncomfortable, and
am afraid we cannot think OF IL.
The argument on the other side, of
course. is very strong. That is. that if
We do not 90 into campaign, the rank
and file of our supporters will lose faith
and interest in the cause. 1t Is prOba-
bly, true that men need To feel that they
have something To fight for which lives
from dav To day and does not take a
Information. So tO speak. II looks. how
ever. as II the policy of the party would
be that which will result in having a
national ticket IN the field next year
and waging a persistent campaign.
Most of our friends are in favor of this
course as the wisest one and so. in all
probability, we shall have an independ-
ant ticket" "What would be your own
idea as To utilizing such strength as you
have in case you do not run separate
,icketp' 1T would be my plan To make
alliances i'm q way that should seem
most advisable. For instance if one of
the parties should take square posi-
lion upon the tariff question, we should
ind it judiciOus To side with that party
which favOrs free trade, and thus we
should lend our weight to the accom-
plishment of one of the elements of our
cause. DO you think that the rank
and file of your party is So well ground
ed i'm the principles of free trade that
YOU could swing them upon that issue.
and depend upon their votes being cast
for the candidate aud platform that rep
resent itP' oh. | most certainly do. :"
said Mr.. George, omphatically. Il
think that nearly all of the voters Of
the united labor party are free traders
and that they would see the advisable
Of supporting some other party on
hat doctrine for one year and wait for
another campaign before attempting to
show individual strength. You see the
question is rather haZv at present. hut
still. as / say. the indications are that
nur policy Will he in the line of main
tanning an independent position. making
40 alliances, but conducting our fight
FOR principles entirely, whether we are
sure of defeat or not"